The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1887-08-12

JANTJE CREPT THROUGH AND JESS FOL-
LOWED HIM.
Jantjes own supper. Hungry as he was
himself, for he had had no food all day, he
gave it to Jess without a moments hesita-
ton, together with n wooden spoon, and,
squatting on the rock before her. watched her
eat it with cultural EXPLANATIONS of satisfac-
ton. Not knowing that she was robbing
hungry man, Jess ate the MAS to the last
spoonful, and was grateful to feel the sensa-
ton Of gnawing sickness leave her.
"Now," she said, tell me what you meanp
Thereon Jantje began at the beginning and
related the events Of the day, SO far as he
was acquainted with them. When he came
to where the old man was dragged, with
kicks and blows and ignominy from his own
house, Jess eyes flashed, and she positively
ground her teeth with indignation; and as for
her feelings, when she learned that he was
condemned to death and to be shot at dawn
on the morrow, they simply bafiled descrip-
ton. OF the Bessie complication Jantje was
quite ignorant, and could only tell her that
Frank Muller had an interview with her sis
ter In the little plantation, and that after that
she was shut up in the store room, where she
still was. But this was quite enough for Jess,
WIZ hIlcW IAulAcI CAdl uCOct DcCOcI, perhaps,
than anybody else, and was not by any means
ignorant of his designs upon Bessie. A few
moments thought put the key of the matter
into her hand. She saw now what was the rea-
son of the granting of the pass and of the deter
mined and partially successful attempt at
wholesale murder of which they had been the
victims. She saw, too, why her old uncle had
been condemned to death-that was to be
used as lever with Bessie; the man was ca
pable even of that Yes, she saw it all as clear
as daylight; and in her heart she swore, help
less as she seemed to be, that she would find
a way to prevent it, But what way? what
wayl All, if only John were here! But he
was not SO she must act without him, if only
she could see the way to action. She thought
first Of all of going down boldly and facing
Muller and denouncing him as a murderer
before his men; but moments reflection
showed that this was impracticable. For his
own safety he would be obliged to stop her
mouth somehow, and the best she could ex-
pect would be to be incarcerated and rendered
quite powerless. If only she could manage to
communicate with Bessie! At any rate, it
was absolutely necessary that she should know
what was going on. She might as well be
hundred miles away as a hundred yards.
"Jantje," she said, "tell me where the Beers
are."
"Some are in the wagon house, missile, some
are on sentry, and the rest are down by the
wagon they brought with them and out
spanned behind the gums there. The cart is
there, too, that came just before you did,
with the clergyman in it,"
"And where is Frank Mullerg"l
~ don't know missile; but he brought a
round tent with him in the wagon, and it is
pitched between the two big gums"
"Jantje, must 60 down there and find out
what is going on, and you must come with
me-"
"You will be caught, missile. There is
sentry at the back of the wagon house and
two in front But" he added, perhaps We
might get near. will go out and look at the
night"
Presently he returned and said that a
small rain" had come on and the clouds COW
cred up the stars so that it was very dark.
"Well, let us 60 at once" said Jess.
"Missie, you had better not co." answered
the Hottentot. "You will get wet and the |
Beers will catch you Better let me go. |
can creep about like a snake, and if the Beers
catch me it won't matter"
"You must come too. but 1 am going. l |
must find out"
Then the Hottentot shrugged his shoulders |
and yielded, and, having extinguished the
candle, silently as ghosts they crept out into |
the night.